After several months of contract negotiations between the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation (STF) and the provincial government, a deal could be in sight. STF announced that the Government-Trustee Bargaining Committee (GTBC) presented its final offer to the Teachers’ Bargaining Committee and STF Executive. The final offer includes a three-year agreement with salary increases of three per cent in year one, three per cent in year two, and two per cent in year three with retroactive pay to September 2023. There is also reference to the accountability framework in relation to a Memorandum of Understanding among the three parties.
STF president Samantha Becotte is expected to provide more information during a media address on Thursday at 10:30 a.m. The GTBC confirmed that a tentative agreement has been reached, and STF will present the offer to its membership for ratification. The tentative agreement includes a three-year term, enhancements to teachers’ benefits package, and the inclusion of an accountability framework. The GTBC believes that this agreement is fair and reasonable and will benefit Saskatchewan students, teachers, and families.
Throughout the negotiations, STF has been advocating for issues like classroom size and complexity to be addressed within the contract. Minister of Education Jeremy Cockrill recently announced that a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was offered to teachers with support from the Saskatchewan School Boards Association. The parties agreed to work together to create an accountability framework for the multi-year funding agreement signed earlier in the year. Becotte expressed that during negotiations over the Easter break, the government was unwilling to make the MOU binding.
The agreement reached between STF and the GTBC marks a significant milestone in the contract negotiations that have been ongoing for several months. The final offer includes salary increases and benefits enhancements for teachers, providing stability to the education sector. The inclusion of an accountability framework in the agreement is seen as a positive step towards addressing important issues within the education system. The GTBC believes that the agreement will benefit not only teachers but also students and families across Saskatchewan.
The upcoming vote by STF members on the final offer will be crucial in determining whether the agreement will be ratified. In the meantime, STF president Samantha Becotte’s address to the media on Thursday will provide more details on the offer and the negotiation process. The agreement represents a step towards resolving the contentious issues that have been at the center of the contract negotiations. Both parties believe that the agreement is fair and reasonable and will ultimately benefit all stakeholders in the education sector.
Overall, the agreement reached between STF and the GTBC signals a potential resolution to the contract negotiations that have been ongoing for months. The final offer includes salary increases, benefits enhancements, and an accountability framework that addresses important issues within the education system. The agreement is seen as a positive step towards providing stability to the education sector and benefiting students, teachers, and families across Saskatchewan. The upcoming vote by STF members will determine the fate of the agreement and its impact on the education system in the province.
